MINGORA: The Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Mingora chapter on Wednesday expressed reservations over a notification introducing a four-day working week for courts due to the fuel crisis triggered by tensions in the Middle East.
According to a press statement, the bar association said that while it acknowledged the challenges facing the country and the need for prudent use of resources, reducing working days would severely affect the delivery of justice, which is already under strain due to a heavy backlog of cases.
“A large number of cases are pending in courts, and any reduction in working days will cause further delays,” it said, adding that the practice would particularly affect litigants from remote and underdeveloped areas, who already faced difficulties in accessing justice.
The association emphasised that access to justice was a fundamental right and cautioned against any measures that could hinder timely decisions or undermine public confidence in the judicial system. It further noted that the decision may increase financial and logistical burdens on lawyers, litigants and other stakeholders.
Sarfaraz Khan, general secretary of the bar association, urged the relevant authorities to review the notification and adopt alternative measures to address the fuel crisis. These may include energy conservation, adjustments in court timings, and promoting digital proceedings. The association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting constructive solutions that could serve national interests while ensuring the effective delivery of justice.
